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As I was bringing in the garbage bins from the street, I greeted my neighbor
who was putting up the Christmas lights on their house. I was then subjected
to a strong questioning about when I would be putting up my lights, as "we
want the street to look pretty". When I politely demurred and made various,
"oh they're somewhere in the garage" and "only have one strand that works",
etc. I was then pushed upon to accept the numerous extra lights they had.
Apparently, they have enough to light the neighborhood. Did I mention how we
want the neighborhood to look pretty?! So what's a God-unfearing Atheist to do? I notice the only other house that
has no lights is across the street, and we're both on the corner, so I could
try to make a solidarity with them out of it - "Well, this is where they
stop!" But these neighbors are quite vocal and pushy. I've already bended to
a few requests, like removing ivy and such. I've only lived here for 2
months, BTW. So I guess this is a poll, though I'll leave that out of the subject line,
so YOU will read it! How many atheists does it take to steal Christmas?! No wait.... How many atheists put up Christmas lights in Seattle? And are you doing it out of
peer - pressure, family pressure, or pure hiding?! |
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I don't put up lights (I live in an apartment) but I do decorate my front door
by wrapping it up to look like a present. I also put up a tree and set out a few
holiday things. I do it because I like it. My family lives two states away, and the decorations
help to ease the separation by reminding me of Christmases past. Many of my
decorations are childhood memories, such as ornaments I made in grade school,
some handmade ornaments from my grandmother, a stocking made for me by a past
love. Ah, the bittersweet fragrance of nostalgia! Anyway, I live in Seattle. ANYTHING that will brighten up or add some life to
the cold, wet, bleak winters is much appreciated by one and all :-) As for putting up lights to please the neighbors, why not? It certainly is not a
Christian thing, or even a particularly religious thing. The Winter Solstice has
been a "festival of lights" with every culture in the northern part of the
planet for centuries, maybe even millennia. Just tell yourself that you are
showing how "Bright" you are. |
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